Humans and dogs helping each other out

The video below shows how inmates at a women's prison in Florida are training security dogs. I have heard of another program where inmates with seizures in prison were training dogs to detect seizures in people. Those dogs were then sent to a person that needed that type of dog.

Cute items for your pet

I just about laughed my head off when I saw the photo above at Shop.com It was not so much the cute jogging suit but the fact it looks just like my Min Pin wearing it, right down to the floppy ears and all. You can see the suit here and it only cost $12.99 which is cheaper than the dog jackets I have been seeing at the local pet store.

The same site also sells a treadmill for dogs priced at $489. At that price I'll get my butt out in the cold weather and take the dog for a run. I am sure that my dog would appreciate my company on a walk rather than him being trained to walk on a treadmill.

Persimmon plants and your dog

If you have any Persimmon trees on or near your property you should be aware that the fruit of the tree could be toxic to your dog. Animals that graze such as horses, sheep and cattle have died after ingesting the fruit. What happens in those animals is that after they ingest the fruit it forms a sticky mass in the stomach that proceeds to cause ulcers and often rupture of the stomach. If that does not happen then the mass forms a solid mass that then leads to an obstruction in the animal that leads to death if surgery is not done.

I have not found any incidents of dogs dying from the fruit but since it affects other animals so strongly then I would keep an eye on the dog when the Persimmon trees have dropped their fruit in the fall. Always pick up the fruit off the ground to prevent ingestion by your pet.

Grooming your Chow Chow

The Chow Chow dog has a very thick double coat. Surprisingly it does not take that much brushing. It is recommended by top Chow Chow groomers that the Chow dog not be thoroughly groomed more than once a week. More often than that will cause the outer long fur to break thus leaving only a shorter looking coat that lays flat.

The proper way to groom a Chow Chow is to have the dog laying down and using a "rake" go through the coat from tail to head one small section at a time. The whole process might take a few hours so take your time and teach the dog to relax as well. I use a rake similar to the one pictured below. The rake you choose should be comfortable to use since you will be using it for a few hours each week.



After using the "rake" you will need a brush to back brush the enter coat forward while the dog is standing. This will enhance the Chow Chow's mane and help with oil distribution.